Water Resources
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WATER RESOURCES Major Tributaries The French Creek watershed has ten major tributaries whose sub-basins cover at least 50 square miles (Figure 3). In addition, those major sub-basins can be broken down further into the Pennsylvania State Water Plan designated small watersheds (Figure 13). The PA portion of the main stem of French Creek is classified as a warm water fishery (WWF) by the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Quality Standards (PA Title 25, Chapter 93). West Branch of French Creek The West Branch of French Creek originates in Chautauqua County, New York and flows southwest into Erie County, Pennsylvania before turning south. It joins French Creek from the right side (facing downstream), near Wattsburg, at river mile 84.42 and drains 77.7 square miles. It drains portions of Northeast, Greenfield, and Venango townships and Wattsburg Borough in Pennsylvania. The low gradient West Branch and all of its tributaries are classified as WWF. The West Branch sub-basin contains the most extensive wetlands, including rare fens, of any Pennsylvania headwater area. Although this sub-basin still contains blocks of contiguous forest and undeveloped riparian areas, it is beginning to see development pressure from the city of Erie and North East. Work by Dr. J. Stauffer, et al, Penn State University, and other historic records have documented 26 species of fish from the West Branch sub-basin (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 1992). These include the PA threatened mountain brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon greeleyi), and Ohio lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium). According to surveys by WPC biologists, this stream also supports 13 freshwater mussel species, including a “viable population of the [former] federal candidate Epioblasma triqueta (snuffbox)” (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 1994). South Branch of French Creek The South Branch of French Creek originates in Concord Township, Erie County and flows generally westward to its confluence with French Creek just west of Union City. It joins the main stem from the left at river mile 73.38 and drains 80.3 square miles. It drains portions of Concord, Wayne, Amity, Union, and LeBoeuf townships, the City of Corry, and Elgin and Union City boroughs in Erie County, as well as small portions of Sparta and Bloomfield townships in Crawford County. The South Branch basin is classified as a Cold Water Fishery (CWF) with the exception of one tributary, Beaver Run, one of two Exceptional Value (EV) streams in the French Creek watershed. Beaver Run contains a naturally reproducing wild brown trout (Salmo trutta), population (Lee, 2000) and is classified by the PA Natural Diversity Inventory as a high- gradient clearwater creek. The South Branch sub-basin contains the largest bottomland forest area in the Pennsylvania headwater area. There are also extensive wetlands associated with the section of the South Branch sub-basin between Corry and Union City. Tributaries in this section have rare fens and 51 calcareous seep wetlands associated with them. Much of the riparian areas of the South Branch are intact but the basin supports a high degree of agriculture that could potentially threaten these areas. Thirty-one fish species are recorded from the South Branch sub-basin (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 1992). The mountain brook lamprey and the gilt darter (Percina evides), are the only fish species of special concern. The South Branch sub-basin contains eight mussel species with the cylindrical papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) and spike (Elliptio dilatata), being the only two species recorded from the headwater areas near Corry (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 1994). LeBoeuf Creek LeBoeuf Creek forms from two major branches. The East Branch originates in Venango and Greene townships just north of Lake Pleasant in Erie County. The main branch originates in Summit Township, Erie County. The two branches flow southward to their confluence in Waterford Township, Erie County and LeBoeuf Creek continues southward to Lake LeBoeuf in Waterford. From Lake LeBoeuf, LeBoeuf Creek flows south to its confluence with French Creek in LeBeouf Township. It joins French Creek from the right at river mile 67 and drains 63.3 square miles. LeBoeuf Creek is classified as a Trout Stocked Fishery (TSF). According to the PA Fish & Boat Commission, however, LeBoeuf Creek was last stocked with trout in 1988 due to posting of private property (Lee, 2000). Trout Run, a tributary to LeBoeuf Creek, is classified as a EV stream and a Class A trout stream because of a naturally reproducing wild brown trout population. The LeBoeuf Creek sub-basin contains extensive wetlands upstream from Lake LeBoeuf and Waterford, which include fen and calcareous marsh areas. Better draining headwater areas as well as parts of the sub-basin downstream are extensively farmed. Thirty fish species are recorded from the LeBoeuf Creek sub-basin, including the PA endangered Iowa darter (Etheostoma exile) and warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), and PA threatened Ohio lamprey (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 1992). Lower LeBoeuf Creek, below Lake LeBoeuf, contains a diverse mussel community with at least 13 species, including the federally endangered clubshell mussel (Pleurobema clava). Upper LeBoeuf Creek has no documented mussel species, however the cylindrical papershell has been recorded from the East Branch of LeBoeuf Creek. Muddy Creek Muddy Creek also forms from two major branches. The East Branch originates in Athens Township, Crawford County where it meets the main branch. The main branch originates in Steuben and Richmond townships, Crawford County and drains Townville before entering Athens Township. The main stem of Muddy Creek flows northwest through Athens, Bloomfield, Richmond, and Rockdale townships in Crawford County. In addition, Muddy Creek flows through the northern Seneca division of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge. Muddy Creek joins French Creek from the left at river mile 55.58 and drains 83.6 square miles. The separate 52 53 54 branches of Muddy Creek and its tributaries are classified as High Quality Cold Water Fisheries (HQ-CWF). The main stem of Muddy Creek is a High Quality Trout Stocked Fishery (HQ- TSF). Much of the headwater areas of the Muddy Creek sub-basin are extensively farmed. In contrast, the Erie National Wildlife Refuge and State Game Lands #83 protect extensive wetlands along the downstream sections of Muddy Creek. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and the French Creek Project have targeted the Muddy Creek sub-basin for outreach to landowners and implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices. The Muddy Creek sub-basin holds 25 fish species, including the PA threatened Ohio and mountain brook lampreys (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 1992). Muddy Creek also harbors the federally endangered clubshell mussel, along with several other freshwater mussel species. The federally endangered northern riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) has been documented in French Creek near the mouth of Muddy Creek and may exist in Muddy Creek proper. Conneauttee Creek Conneauttee Creek and its tributaries originate in Washington and Franklin townships, Erie County and flow into Edinboro Lake. Upon leaving Edinboro Lake, Conneauttee Creek flows generally south-southeast, draining Edinboro and portions of Washington Township before entering Crawford County where it forms the border between Venango and Cambridge townships. Nearly half of the Conneauttee Creek basin is attributed to its major tributary, Little Conneauttee Creek. Little Conneauttee Creek drains portions of McKean, Waterford, Washington, and LeBoeuf townships in Erie County and Cambridge Township, Crawford County. Little Conneauttee Creek drains 25.9 square miles before its confluence with Conneauttee Creek just above the mouth of Conneauttee Creek. Conneauttee Creek joins French Creek from the right at river mile 48.02, northwest of Cambridge Springs, Crawford County, and drains a total of 60.8 square miles. Conneauttee Creek is classified as a WWF with the exception of the segment between Edinboro Lake and the Erie-Crawford County border, which is a TSF. Little Conneauttee Creek and its tributaries are classified as a CWF. The Conneauttee Creek sub-basin is extensively farmed and offers plenty of restoration opportunities for degraded riparian areas. This sub-basin has been targeted by the FCP for agricultural BMP implementation. The Conneauttee Creek sub-basin has some wetlands including a calcareous fen associated with Edinboro Lake. There were no records of fish surveys done in the Conneauttee sub-basin by Stauffer et al. The PFBC have documented 16 species of fish in Conneauttee Creek. The PFBC also report several instances of sediment pollution to Little Conneauttee Creek from oil and gas well drilling (Lee and Obert, 1984). No mussels have been documented in Little Conneauttee Creek; however, 55 Conneauttee Creek harbors the federally endangered clubshell mussel, as well as the white heelsplitter (Lasmigona complanata). Woodcock Creek Woodcock Creek drains portions of Randolph, Richmond, Woodcock, East Mead, and West Mead townships and the boroughs of Blooming Valley and Saegertown, all in Crawford County. Flowing generally westward, Woodcock Creek joins French Creek from the left at river mile 37.84, just south of Saegertown, and drains 50.5 square miles. Woodcock Creek was dammed in 1973 by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, creating Woodcock Creek Lake. The dam was designed as a triple use dam: recreation, flood control, and low